"We Negro writers, just by being black, have been on the blacklist all our lives. Censorship for us begins at the color line." (3)
Langston Hughes was born in Joplin, Missouri on February 1 1902 and lived there with his grandmother until he was thirteen. He then moved to Lincoln, Illinois to live with his mom and step-dad and this is when he began writing. His family eventually moved to Cleveland, Ohio. After high school he went to Mexico for a year and then to Columbia University for another year. Hughes had various jobs during this time including; assistant cook, launderer, busboy, and seaman. He moved to Washington, D.C. in 1924. In 1926 Hughes had his first poetry book published, The Weary Blues. He also had another poetry book, Fine Clothes to the Jew, published in 1927. Two years after that he went to Lincoln University to finish his college education. He then began writing literature books, as well as poetry. Hughes said his primary influences were Paul Lawrence Dunbar, Carl Sandburg, and Walt Whitman. Through his poetry and literature he gave interesting depictions of African Americans from the 1920s to the 1960s. Langston’s work all throughout his life helped form the artistic part of the Harlem Renaissance in the 1920s. Through his writing, he told stories about his culture. Hughes talked about the awful and the awesome experiences he and other African Americans had. After a great life of 65 years, Langston Hughes died on May 22, 1967, in New York from complications of prostate cancer. His former home at 20 East 127th Street in Harlem, New York City, was made a landmark, renamed “Langston Hughes Place” by the New York City Preservation Commission in his memory. There is also a Langston Hughes Library (1).
Langston Hughes Biography
"We Negro writers, just by being black, have been on the blacklist all our lives. Censorship for us begins at the color line." (3)
Langston Hughes was born in Joplin, Missouri on February 1 1902 and lived there with his grandmother until he was thirteen. He then moved to Lincoln, Illinois to live with his mom and step-dad and this is when he began writing. His family eventually moved to Cleveland, Ohio. After high school he went to Mexico for a year and then to Columbia University for another year. Hughes had various jobs during this time including; assistant cook, launderer, busboy, and seaman. He moved to Washington, D.C. in 1924. In 1926 Hughes had his first poetry book published, The Weary Blues. He also had another poetry book, Fine Clothes to the Jew, published in 1927. Two years after that he went to Lincoln University to finish his college education. He then began writing literature books, as well as poetry. Hughes said his primary influences were Paul Lawrence Dunbar, Carl Sandburg, and Walt Whitman. Through his poetry and literature he gave interesting depictions of African Americans from the 1920s to the 1960s. Langston’s work all throughout his life helped form the artistic part of the Harlem Renaissance in the 1920s. Through his writing, he told stories about his culture. Hughes talked about the awful and the awesome experiences he and other African Americans had. After a great life of 65 years, Langston Hughes died on May 22, 1967, in New York from complications of prostate cancer. His former home at 20 East 127th Street in Harlem, New York City, was made a landmark, renamed “Langston Hughes Place” by the New York City Preservation Commission in his memory. There is also a Langston Hughes Library (1).Works Consulted
"Hughes Typing." 2008. <http://www.harpers.org/media/image/blogs/misc/hughes_typing_full.jpg>
"Langston Hughes." 2008. 4 March 2008. <http://www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/83>
"Langston Hughes Quotes" 2008. 7 March 2008. <http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/l/langston_hughes.html>
" Poetry by Langston Hughes - The Weary Blues." 2007. 7 March 2008. <http://youtube.com/watch?v=KyqwvC5s4n8
"The Weary Blues." 2008. <http://cache.eb.com/eb/image?id=78211&rendTypeId=4>
Links:
1920s Poetry Home PageFamous Poets
Langston Hughes Poems